“It’s easier to get 3,000 people to register for a conference than 100 people for a seminar,” Andy Johnston, author and experienced event planner says in his post, “Think Big About Smaller Events.” The paradigm that professional event planners espouse, over and over is to be intentional with all aspects of the event. The best way to do this is to start during pre-planning, even before the design phase of the experience. Andy is adamant that we take a quarter turn to look at things differently e.g. don’t run out and book the venue and set a date. First, ask important questions: what’s the event about? what are the intended results? how much time is needed? how much space is needed? what sized audience is a reasonably expected? When those questions are answered, you have a fighting chance to focus your audience with laser precision and clearly communicate why they should attend, the “event’s purpose, message and value.” Rachel & Anita

Sometimes you’ve got big dreams for an experience and only a few dollars to implement an event. Without the big bucks you can still be intentional about creating the environment that sets the appropriate tone for those attending your event. Stretch that dollar: Know thy budget. Set a budget for your event. Always. Get bids, proposals and estimates from vendors, give allowances in other line items then stick to it (don’t forget to include taxes and gratuities). Something may cost a bit more here or there and when you have a budget you can make adjustments in other areas to make up the difference. If you read no farther and stick this in your to-dos for your next events, you will be better off. Research your venue. In our region, venue staff are excited to show off what they can do and what they can provide within budget. Leverage the venue amenities to the advantage of your budget. Often there are free resources available to you at the venue. Ask lots of questions and stretch your imagination. Lighting can set the mood for learning, for an intimate setting, for something surprising. If it’s as simple as flipping a switch, use it to your advantage. Does the venue have pipe and drape to guide people into a room, staging to set people apart, furniture to rearrange for a small group setting? Is classroom or theater style layout appropriate for the event? Intentionally use space. Room layout is always important to your event from each perspective of the sponsors, partners, exhibitors and the intended audience. With zero or little dollars spent, you can encourage or inhibit collaboration with the intentional layout of tables, chairs, drink stations, buffets, AV equipment, etc. Gather people in small groups where they sit face-to-face to generate buzz and collaboration; seat few people in a large space, side-by-side so they cannot make eye-contact to discourage interaction. Plan and control the lanes and gateways within exhibitors to shape the where people come together and, in part, shape their interactions. Intentionally use time. If you have a limited budget, consider the length, duration and time of day you’ll host your program. You can certainly make some savings by controlling the time of the event. Limit your content to a 3-4 hour event and keep costs down by hosting in the morning when you can provide a very reasonably priced morning meal or snack, or get by on the cheap, by not serving food. Spread your dollars across many events. If you have a reoccurring event or similar events that can use similar materials, stretch your dollar by using or creating materials that you can use over and over. Branded signs don’t have to be specific to the each event occurrence. While signs may change from event to event, you can showcase the brand by selecting an element to represent that brand: use fabric, paint a single color and repeat on signs, podiums and tables. If you can’t pay for as many elements as you want at once, include a few in each budget, just make sure they have an appropriate shelf life. Get Creative! You may be surprised what you can provide towards a great experience for your intended audience on a limited budget. Rachel, Reach Partners

Reach Partners gathered an expert team, including a project manager, photo journalist and graphic designer, to create an 18-month calendar featuring women enrolled in the Women’s Way program and the health care providers who provide the services offered by Women’s Way. The photo journalist traveled across ND into homes, businesses and farms to photograph and interview Women’s Way enrollees to capture their personal story of health, life and the impact of the Women’s Way program. The graphic designer fashioned the calendar’s attractive concept to pull the reader’s attention to the women and their narratives, rather than the overall design. The final design was provided to the client who managed the calendar printing and distribution.